Missouri Links
Missouri School Counselors
“The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law,” is Missouri’s state motto, which reflects the state’s commitment to the security and wellbeing of its citizens—which includes students within their public education system.
School counselors here focus on the welfare of every student in all ways—academically, socially, and personally. Effective, comprehensive school counseling programs are vital to schools within Missouri and are a critical element in the development of success-ready students. Missouri school counselors have a positive impact on students, parents, schools and communities, and they make it their mission to ensure the welfare of everyone involved.
- Top Picks
Featured Universities with School Counseling Programs
#1
Walden University
MS in School Counseling - General Program. Click here to contact Walden University and request information about their programs.
#2
Grand Canyon University
M. Ed in School Counseling (leads to initial Licensure) Click here to contact Grand Canyon University and request information about their programs.
#3
New York University (NYU)
NYU Steinhardt's accredited master of arts program in Counseling and Guidance: School and Bilingual School Counseling. Through this online program, you will gain the skills you need to become a professional Pre-K-12 school counselor, working with children and families in your community to foster academic achievement and success. Click here to contact New York University and request information about their programs.
#4
University of Denver
Earn a Master's degree in School Counseling online from the University of Denver. Learn from doctoral-level faculty in live classes and gain experience through mock counseling and in-field training. No GRE required. Click here to contact University of Denver and request information about their programs.
What do Missouri school counselors do?
Missouri’s school counseling program is designed to ensure that each school has a fully implemented comprehensive school counseling program. This program supports academic and career achievement and evaluates the social and emotional development of all students.
Here are a few specific roles of the Missouri school counselor:
They promote lifelong learning.
School counselors are there as students plan and prepare for their future, promoting lifelong learning and advancement. By offering specialized classes and services, students are motivated to grow, learn, and keep learning beyond the high school years. By identifying student needs, school counselors are able to develop customized programs that inform, motivate, and inspire a love for learning. They also assist teachers by offering in-service training to address particular topics specific to each school’s educational system.
They incorporate assessment, career, and college planning.
Whether a student is aiming for an Ivy-league school or a tech/trade school, counselors in Missouri offer up-to-date assessments aimed at college and career readiness. These assessments help pinpoint student strengths and weaknesses and allow counselors to offer individualized college/career guidance. Missouri school counselors also educate students and their families about financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
They work closely with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, and the community.
Missouri school counselors don’t carry the responsibility alone. They work alongside educators, parents, and administrators to ensure the best academic and behavioral success for each student.
They create positive and safe learning climates in schools.
Safety in schools is a major priority for school counselors in Missouri. They are equipped to handle emergency situations and implement preventative measures. Some of the classes they offer might be focused on bullying, substance abuse, harassment, or racial equality. By leading the way towards a positive and safe learning environment, school counselors promote respect for every student in the school system.
Missouri’s School Counselors Set to Adopt New Learning Standards
It’s been a long time coming, but the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced new Missouri School Counseling Learning Standards in June 2025. Not since the 1970s have these standards been changed.
Today’s school counselors have decidedly different job duties than their colleagues of past generations. These professionals not only counsel students on their academics and their postsecondary education and career choices, but they serve as important contacts for students in need of mental and behavioral health services. The needs of today’s students and the community in general are far removed from what they were in the 1970s, and these new standards better reflect these changes to the school counseling profession.
The new standards are also designed to revamp curriculum lessons and educational standards to ensure academic achievement and prepare students for careers post- graduation.
Some of the new standards are now focused on ensuring that students are taught contemporary skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, self-awareness, team building, setting goals decision-making, and time management.
They developed a framework that is focused on three developmental content areas:
Why should someone consider becoming a school counselor in Missouri?
Job Market Trends
Missouri School Counselor Salary (median) 1
$53,790/year
Number of School Counselors Employed 1
8,960
Projected employment growth in Missouri 2
6.2% from 2022-2032
School counselors inspire children, support them, and promote positive academic, career, and personal development. The positive and lasting impact school counselors have on students is one of the top reasons these professionals choose this specific career path.
Here are a few reasons why someone should consider becoming a school counselor in Missouri:
- School counselors are a vital component of a school’s educational team.
- School counselors help students get through difficult challenges that might otherwise impede their overall success.
- The need for school counselors across the U.S. is growing, which suggests job growth and security for this career field.
The many ways in which Missouri displays competency in the area of school counseling services is highly commendable. Missouri truly promotes the welfare of their people, including success-ready students looking towards a bright and hopeful future.
Contact schools offering school counseling or mental health counseling programs and learn how you can begin a career as a Missouri School Counselor.
Whether you are from Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Independence, Columbia, or anywhere else across the state, you will find school counseling a highly rewarding and respected career.
1.) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics job market and salary figures for Educational, Guidance and Career Counselors and Advisors represents state data not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2025.
2.) School Counselor projections data retrieved from Projections Central, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. Data accessed May 2025.